Boys track and field: Mesa boys open PCL with a bang

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Irwin Salas and Zach Powell made sure the first Costa

Mesa High track and field meet at Orange Coast College would be a

memorable one, in the Mustang boys’ Pacific Coast League opener against

visiting University Thursday.

Salas, a senior who also earned All-PCL honors in cross country and

helped the Mustangs’ soccer team to its second straight PCL title in the

winter, won the 800-, 1,600 and 3,200-meter events. Moments after winning

the 3,200 (10:33.0), he ran in the Mustangs’ victorious 1,600 relay, with

Carlos Ibarra, Danny Krikorian and Powell. Salas’ performance led to a

75-57 victory over the Trojans, in Mesa Coach George Greenwalt’s PCL

debut.

Salas is a reflection of Greenwalt’s new attitude for the Mustangs.

Greenwalt, who was on the coaching staff last year and coached defensive

backs and wide receivers on the Mustangs’ varsity football team in the

fall, has called for a “no-nonsense” theme for this season.

“The kids have to show up at the same time to practice every day,”

said Greenwalt, who starred as a pass catcher at Newport Harbor High,

Class of 1991. “They’re expected to wear their school colors, to learn

and to train hard. If they miss practice, they’ll miss the meet. We’re

here to have fun, but I want them be more serious. They shouldn’t be on

the team just to get out of P.E. class.”

Greenwalt’s emotional and intense style of coaching has also resulted

in a unified concept for the Mustangs, which attracted Krikorian, who

started on the basketball team and was sought after to play for the

volleyball squad.

Krikorian, like Powell and Devant Xoai, was a double winner. Krikorian

completed personal-best performances with his wins in the long jump

(19-9) and the triple jump (37-8). He skied to 19-9 in the long jump on

his last attempt, after posting violations in his first two jumps.

Powell raced to wins in the 200 (23.2) and 400 (52.4), while Xoai won

the 110 and 300 hurdles.

The all-weather, rubber track helped Powell, the junior track standout

said. He had a personal best in the 200 and the 400 was his best time

this year.

“I love this track,” Powell said. “It’s really great on my legs. I

have a little bit of shin splints, so the track feels good on them.”

Powell also said he plans to compete in the 300 hurdles, and has

qualifying for CIF as one of his many goals.